Multifold plastic grocery bags and roll

ABSTRACT

A plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags comprised of at least two plastic grocery bags connected in series as a continuous plastic sheet and defined by a separation border. Each of the plastic grocery bags having sides, a sealed bottom and an openable top and arranged with each bag bottom connected to an adjacent bag top by a separation border. The separation border includes at least one separation fault selected from the group consisting of a perforation, orifice, thin and combinations thereof. The at least two plastic grocery bags are folded first in half in a first direction from side to side and then each half being folded in half again from side to side in an opposite direction from the first half fold, to create a flat, full width single M-shaped fold. The multifold plastic grocery bags may optionally be placed on a support core.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

a. Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to new, efficient multifold plasticgrocery bags, especially for use with dispensers for plastic bags fromrolls, and particularly what are referred to as grocery bags (notlimited to use in grocery stores or to be used for groceries, butcommonly called plastic grocery bags or produce bags). The presentinvention multifold plastic grocery bags and rolls of these bags,utilize a full width M-shaped fold in place of unfolded and conventionalstar folded bags. The present invention bags are balanced, eventhickness, narrow, flat sealed, reliable and compact, and are veryefficiently dispensed.

b. Description of Related Art

The following patents are representative of the field pertaining to thepresent invention:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,424,963 B2 to Mark E. Daniels describes a wire frameplastic bag dispenser includes an angled lower bag roll support urgingperforated, rolled plastic bags toward a bag roll restraining elementattached to the frame. A constraining movement element prevents lateralmovement of the bag roll. A perforation parter separates bags as theyare pulled from the roll. The bags may be folded along at least onevertical axis to form a more compact bag roll and may have a chisel cutin the perforation to aid in separation by the perforation parter. Theframe includes four corners each of approximately 90 degrees, has a Cshape in a horizontal plane, and includes a dispensing end, a back end,and two sides. The lower bag roll support includes a proximal endattached to the back end and extends downwardly to a distal end. Theperforation parter may be located outwardly from the dispensing end ofthe frame.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,256 B2 to Mark E. Daniels describes a series of rollmounted bags and dispensers are described. The bags may be folded alongat least one axis and rolled. The compact roll of bags is placed invarious dispensers. As the upper portion of the first bag is pulled fromthe roll, the roll will rotate, presenting the succeeding bag fordispensing after the first bag is removed. Variations of the dispenserinclude one with a bag opening means with a mounting member and bagopening element causing the bags to open as they are pulled from thedispenser. The dispenser includes mechanisms for supporting the bag rolland constraining its movement along its horizontal axis. Anothervariation of the dispenser has a perforation parting means thatfacilitates separation of one bag from a subsequent bag. The dispensermay be removably attached to a dispenser support that attaches to asurface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,281 to Ebrahim Simhaee describes a continuous web ofbags formed of a plurality of layers to be separated along a line ofperforations that extends through all of the layers transverse of theweb, in which at least one of the outermost layers is detached from theweb at the separation line. Apparatus accomplishes this detachment in amoving web by engaging the outermost layer outer surface and exerting aforce in a manner to produce the detachment from the separation line.Both the outermost upper and lower web layers can be detached at theseparation line.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,535 to Charles Paul Kannankeril et al. describes abag dispensing system providing plastic bags from a roll of bags whereone end is attached to the top of the next bag by perforation lines witha slot therebetween. The roll of bags provides a core having an indexingmember on at least one end. The dispenser comprising a wire frame formedinto channels to support the core. The channels include a core retainingmember for restraining the core in the channel. The dispenser includesat least one brake attached to a support member and disposed at an anglethereto to provide tension to the edges of the roll of bags as the corepasses through the channel passageway as bags are removed from the roll.Spaced apart from the support is a separating tongue. The tongue engagesthe slot regardless of whether the bags are drawn over or under thetongue.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,666 to Ebrahim Simhaee describes a roll of plasticbags for use with a dispenser having opposing tracks in which the rollis supported, and a separating tongue for enabling individual bags to beseparated from the roll. The roll of plastic bags is wound on an axle,the plastic bags being in a star sealed configuration. The ends of theaxle project beyond the ends of the roll a distance sufficient to enablethe axle to be supported for rotational and translational movement inthe tracks in such a way that the roll frictionally engages a dispensersurface. Separation lines are provided between adjacent bags, a slot ineach separation line being engageable by the tongue within the dispenserso that individual bags can be dispensed from the roll one at a time.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,262 to Ebrahim Simhaee describes a plastic bagdispenser holds a continuous roll of bags, connected by perforatedseparation lines. The dispenser is provided with a tongue, which thebags are dispensed over, that engages the separation line between thebag at the end of the roll and the next bag. This begins the separationof the separation line, as well as holds the next bag behind the tongue.A finger is provided on the upstream side of the tongue, with a gapbetween the finger and tongue. As a bag is separated, a portion of thefront edge of the next bag is held in the gap, holding the bag inposition for the next user. The roll of bags rests in curved grooves inthe dispenser that cause the roll to abut and frictionally engage aninterior surface of the dispenser, preventing free-wheeling of the roll.The curvature of the grooves causes the component of force which createsthe frictional engagement to increase as the size of the roll decreases.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,019 to Joseph W. Morris describes a bag dispenser,for separating and dispensing a series of plastic bags where one end isattached to the top of the next bag by perforation lines with a slottherebetween. The series of bags are dispensed from a device comprisinga wire frame formed into channels to support the core that the series ofbags are rolled onto. The channels allow the core to rotate in place butrestrict its linear movement to the vertical direction. The dispenserhas two braking devices, a braking bar underneath the roll of bags and apair of fingers that are attached to the channels to engage the core.The braking bar is positioned transversely to the series of bags so thatit supports them. The pair of fingers does not engage the core until thenumber of bags on the core has decreased and the core has begun todescend. The two braking devices work in combination to retard therotation and dispensing of the bags and thus to apply a tension to theseries of bags. Attached to the frame is a separator with, preferably, asymmetric projection on its end. The projection will engage the slotregardless of whether the bags are drawn over or under the projection.Additionally, the separator is preferably coiled in its midsection tofunction as a spring. As the user pulls on the bags, a tension iscreated by the braking devices and the user to deflect the separatorwhich remains deflected until the projection engages the slot. Thus,when the separator engages the slot, the separator recoils through itsnormal position to facilitate the separation of the two bags.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,084 to Mark E. Daniels describes a rack fordispensing plastic bags from a roll of bags joined end-to-end andseparated by a line of perforations and either an opening or arupturable central area between the bags along the perforation line,comprising a rectangular cradle to hold the roll for removal of bags byunrolling them over a horizontal side element and past a pair ofsnagging elements which intercept the rupturable central area torestrain each ensuing bag as the preceding bag is pulled away from theroll so as to enable the preceding bag to be separated from the ensuingbag along the perforated and open or rupturable central area line.Provision is made to enable the cradle to be mounted either on or undera store counter, or against a wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,424 to Ebrahim Simhaee describes a roll of plasticbags is wound on an axle which is adapted to be retained within adispensing device. The bags may be of any configuration but, preferably,are of the type known as a star seal with individual bags separated byperforated separation lines. The bags are wound around a core which canbe retained on the axle so that the roll can rotate with respect to theaxle when the axle is fixed within the dispensing device. A slot isprovided in each separation line between adjacent bags, the slot adaptedto engage a complementary tongue in the dispensing device for separatingthe individual bags. The width of the roll is such relative to thetongue that when an individual bag has been separated from the roll,portions of the next bag on the roll extend forwardly of the tonguewhere they are in a position to be grasped by a user and subsequentlysevered from the roll. The roller may include a feature for retardingrotation of the roll of bags relative to the axle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,371 to Mark E. Daniels describes a method and devicefor dispensing T-shirt type plastic bags from a roll joined end to endin series but separable along perforated lines where the bag ends areconnected, whereby the bags are rolled and the roll of bags is placed ina cradle for unrolling and passing between two bars above and parallelto the axis of the roll, at least one of the bars having a centrallydisposed hooking snagging element past which the series of bags isdrawn. When the open space between the straps of each T-shirt bag passesthe snagging element, the latter catches the leading edge of the ensuingbag to restrain it sufficiently so that further pulling on the precedingbag results in its detachment along the perforated line for the ensuingbag. Rack means are provided to enable the method to be practiced.

Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taughtnor rendered obvious thereby.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention solves the problems and overcomes the drawbacks anddeficiencies of prior art by providing a plurality of multifold plasticgrocery bags composed of at least two plastic grocery bags in seriesconnected to one another by continuous plastic sheet and defined by aseparation border, each of the plastic grocery bags having sides, asealed bottom and an openable top, and arranged with each bottomconnected to an adjacent bag top. The plastic grocery bags separationborder includes at least one separation fault selected from the groupconsisting of perforation, orifice, thin and combinations thereof. Theplastic grocery bags are folded first in half in a first direction fromside to side and then each half being folded in half again from side toside in an opposite direction from the first half fold, to create aflat, full width single M-shaped fold.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the separationfault is a plurality of perforations.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the separationfault is established after the bags are folded and is a combination ofperforations and at least one orifice.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the orifice isat least ¾ inch in width.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the orifice iscentrally located and has perforations left and right of the orifice.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, there are atotal of four folded sections of the single M-shaped fold, and each foldhas two layers of plastic sheet, and all folds have equal widths.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least twoplastic grocery bags is at least fifty plastic grocery bags.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the plasticgrocery bags are plastic selected from the group consisting ofpolyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene-polypropylene blend.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the plasticgrocery bags have a predetermined width measured from side to side and apredetermined length measured from top to bottom and the predeterminedlength is greater than the predetermined width.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the plasticgrocery bags have a predetermined folded width and have a predeterminedfolded length and the predetermined length is at least five timesgreater than the folded width.

In some other preferred embodiments of the present invention, it itsprovided a multifold plastic grocery bag roll comprised of: a) a supportcore; and, b) a roll of plastic grocery bags on the support core andhaving at least two plastic grocery bags in series connected to oneanother by continuous plastic sheet and defined by a separation border,each of the at least two plastic grocery bags having sides, a sealedbottom and an openable top, each of the at least two plastic grocerybags being arranged with each bottom connected to an adjacent bag top;the at least two plastic grocery bags separation border including atleast one separation fault selected from the group consisting ofperforation, orifice, thin and combinations thereof; the at least twoplastic grocery bags being folded first in half in a first directionfrom side to side and then each half being folded in half again fromside to side in an opposite direction from the first half fold to createa flat, full width single M-shaped fold.

The additional features set forth above are also features integratedwith the present invention rolls.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may beset forth or apparent from consideration of the following detaileddescription, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood thatboth the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and intended to provide further explanationwithout limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention and together with the detail description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view showing the hollow plastic tube in production thatwill become a plurality of the present invention plastic grocery bags.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a hollow plastic tube in production as asingle blown polymer extrusion with a thin heat seal applied to createindividual sections.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a hollow plastic tube as described in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a hollow plastic tube as described in FIG. 2with perforations created to produce plastic grocery bags.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 4,ready to be folded, with relative dimensions identified.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 4showing the plastic grocery bag after the first fold, creating an equalarmed V-shaped fold.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 6after the second fold, creating an equal armed M-shaped fold.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 7showing the plastic grocery bag fully folded into the final M-shapedfold.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a hollow plastic tube with thin heat seals andperforations applied to create individual plastic grocery bags andorifices centrally located on the perforations.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic presentation displaying the key features ofthe present invention and various methods and configurations for eachfeature.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention nestedon a plastic bag dispenser;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 top view showing the hollow plastic tube in production that willbecome a plurality of the present invention plastic grocery bags. In thepresent embodiment, hollow plastic tube 2 is produced using blownpolymer extrusion to create a continuous run of plastic grocery bags. Inthe top view of hollow plastic tube 2 the front 5, back 7, right side 1and left side 3 of the hollow tube 2 are illustrated. The front 5, back7, right side 1 and left side 3 form the hollow area 9 of the hollowplastic tube 2. Hollow area 9 will become the openable inside of theplastic grocery bags as described below.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 2 through FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a plastic hollow tube in production as asingle blown polymer extrusion with a thin heat seal applied to createindividual sections. Once hollow plastic tube 4 has been formed asdescribed above in FIG. 1, it is passed through rollers that remove alltrapped air and flatten the hollow plastic tube 4. Heat is thenselectively applied to create the thin heat sealed bottoms 111, 211, 311and 411 that define individual sections of hollow plastic tube 4.

The length of individual sections is determined by the distance betweentop opening 109 and thin heat sealed bottom 111. The distance betweenbag opening 109 and thin heat sealed bottom 111 is the same as thedistances between bag opening 209 and thin heat sealed bottom 211, bagopening 309 and thin heat sealed bottom 311 and bag opening 409 and thinheat sealed bottom 411. The front view of hollow plastic tube 4 alsoprovides an improved view of the front surface 105, 205, 305 and 405formed by top openings 109, 209, 309 and 409 and thin heat sealedbottoms 111, 211, 311 and 411. This pattern will be continued throughoutthe entire length of hollow plastic tube 4.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a hollow plastic tube as described in FIG. 2. Inthe top view of a hollow plastic tube 4 the front 105, back 107, rightside 101 and left side 103 of the hollow plastic tube 4 are illustrated,along with thin heat sealed bottom 111. The front 105, back 107, rightside 101 and left side 103 form a hollow open top 109 of the hollowplastic tube 4. The thin heat sealed bottom 111 that is furtherdescribed above in FIG. 2 is located in the middle of front 105 and back107 and runs between right side 101 and left side 103. With hollowplastic tube 4 open as shown in FIG. 3, the heat sealed bottom 111 isclearly visible through hollow open top 109.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 4 through FIG. 8.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a hollow plastic tube as described in FIG. 2with perforations created to produce plastic grocery bags. Perforations613, 713 and 813 are created just below the thin heat sealed bottoms511, 611 and 711. The perforations 613, 713 and 813 are adapted toeasily separate plastic grocery bags 6A in a controlled break line.

With perforations 613, 713 and 813 applied, the front surfaces 605 and705 are defined as the distance between perforations 613 and 713 and thedistance between 713 and 813 respectively. This pattern will becontinued throughout the entire length of plastic grocery bags 6A. Frontsurface 505 is defined as the distance between top opening 509 andperforation 613. Top surface 805 is defined as the distance betweenperforation 813 and heat sealed bottom 811. Top openings 509, 609, 709and 809 are created when perforations 613, 713 and 813 are separated.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 4,ready to be folded, with relative dimensions identified. Plastic grocerybag 6A is formed by front 505, back 507, right side 501 and left side503. Open top 509 is located in the middle of front 505 and back 507 andruns from right side 501 to left side 503. The plastic grocery bag 6Ahas length X and will first be folded at a length Y from the left side503. Y is defined as one half the total length, X, so the first foldwill be made midway along the widest face of the bag, in this case front505 and back 507.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 4showing the plastic grocery bag after the first fold, creating an equalarmed V-shaped fold. Plastic grocery bag 6B is folded inward at themiddle fold point 515 of the widest face, front 505 and back 507 in thepresent embodiment. The distance between right side 501 and the middlefold point 515 is the same as the distance between left side 503 andmiddle fold point 515.

Top opening 509 maintains position relative to front 505 and back 507 asdescribed above in FIG. 5. However, top opening 509 now runs from rightside 501 to middle fold point 515 to left side 503, mimicking the equalarmed V-shape of folded plastic grocery bag 6B.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 6after the second fold, creating an equal armed M-shaped fold. After theplastic grocery bag 6C is folded inward at middle fold point 515 asdescribed above in FIG. 6, it is folded outward at right fold point 519and left fold point 517 to form an equal armed M-shape. Right fold point519 is located midway between right side 501 and middle fold point 515.Similarly, left fold point 517 is located midway between left side 503and middle fold point 515. Left side 503 and right side 501 are foldedabout left fold point 517 and right fold point 519 respectively inopposing directions. The distances between left side 503 and left foldpoint 517, left fold point 517 and middle fold point 515, middle foldpoint 515 and right fold point 519 and right fold point 519 and rightside 501 are all equal in length.

Top opening 509 maintains position relative to front 505 and back 507 asdescribed above in FIG. 6. However, top opening 509 now runs from rightside 501 to right fold point 519 to middle fold point 515 to left foldpoint 517 to left side 503, mimicking equal armed M-shape of plasticgrocery bag 6C.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a plastic grocery bag as described in FIG. 7showing the plastic grocery bag fully folded into the final M-shapedfold. Once the plastic grocery bag 6D is folded at left fold point 517,middle fold point 515 and right fold point 519 as described above inFIG. 7, the back 507 is in contact with itself below the left fold point517 and below the right fold point 519. The front 505 is in contact withitself above middle fold point 515.

Top opening 509 maintains position relative to front 505 and back 507 asdescribed above in FIG. 7, running from right side 501 to right foldpoint 519 to middle fold point 515 to left fold point 517 to left side503.

The distance between front 505 and back 507 has been exaggerated in theabove view to better illustrate the key features of the presentinvention plastic grocery bag 6D. In the preferred embodiment, thedistance between front 505 and back 507 will be defined as twice thethickness of the material selected for production. This will result in athin, compact profile in the final M-shape folded plastic grocery bag6D. The final plastic grocery bag 6D will have a length that is muchlonger than it is wide. This design allows for efficient use of spacewhen storing the present invention plastic grocery bag.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a hollow plastic tube with thin heat seals andperforations applied to create individual plastic grocery bags andorifices centrally located on the perforations. Thin heat seals 911,1011, 1111, and 1211 and perforations 1013, 1113 and 1213 are applied tothe hollow plastic tube to create the plastic grocery bags 8. Frontsurfaces 905, 1005, 1105 and 1205 of plastic grocery bags 8 are definedby perforations 1013, 1113 and 1213 as described above in FIG. 4.Similarly, openings 909, 1009, 1109 and 1209 are formed as described inFIG. 4 above.

In the present embodiment of plastic grocery bags 8, optional orifices1021, 1121 and 1221 are created in the middle of perforations 1013, 1113and 1213 respectively. Optional orifices 1021, 1121 and 1221 are adaptedto catch and aid in separation of perforations 1013, 1113 and 1213 whenused with a suitable plastic bag dispenser, such as described below inFIG. 11.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic presentation 20 displaying the key features ofthe present invention and various methods and configurations for eachfeature. Plastic Bag Material 23 lists the preferred materials to beused in production of the present invention. It is expected thatpolyethylene or polypropylene, both of which are commonly used in theproduction of plastic bags, will be selected for the present invention.A polyethylene/polypropylene blend may also be used, depending on theproduction capabilities and intended use of the finished plastic grocerybag.

Separation Fault Methods 25 provides a list of some possible ways tocreate the separation faults in the present invention plastic grocerybag. The first is through the use of a perforation or perforations asillustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 9. Perforations are cut into theplastic grocery bags during production and provide an easy break methodand help to control the brake line.

A thin or thins may be used in a similar fashion as perforations. A thinis a section of the plastic grocery bag that is thinner than thesurrounding plastic. This makes the thin easy to break and allows for acontrolled break line to be maintained.

An orifice or orifices may also be used, as described in FIG. 9.Orifices can be adapted to catch and separate connected plastic grocerybags when sufficient force is applied. While orifices can be used toseparate plastic grocery bags, they work best when used in combinationwith the above mentioned perforations or thins. Using combinations ofthe three above mentioned separation fault methods, perforations, thinsand orifices, can result in improved break lines and ease of break.

Multiple Production Methods 27 are listed in diagrammatic presentation20. The first is a single bag continuous sheet, as illustrated in FIG.2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 9. As a single bag continuous sheet, a length ofplastic is extruded that has the width of a single plastic grocery bagwhen laid flat. As the plastic is extruded, individual bags are createdby applying thin heat seals perpendicular to the length of extrudedplastic. Separation faults as described above are applied near the thinheat seals to allow the plastic bags to be separated easily. The endresult is a single continuous run of plastic grocery bags.

The present invention may also be created using a multiple bagcontinuous sheet. In this method, a length of plastic is extruded thathas a width of multiple plastic grocery bags when laid flat. Individualplastic bags can be formed by applying thin heat seals perpendicular andparallel to the length of extruded plastic. Separation faults asdescribed above are applied near the perpendicular thin heat seals toallow the plastic bags to be separated easily, and cuts are made in theparallel thin heat seals to separate the sheet into multiple single bagcontinuous sheets. This creates multiple single sheet continuous runs ofplastic grocery bags.

During production, the separation faults can be applied to the plasticgrocery bags before the M-fold is created or after, depending on thefaults selected. For example, in one particular embodiment of thepresent invention, perforations may be applied to the plastic grocerybags as they are extruded but prior to folding. Prior to folding, theperforation tools only need to penetrate two layers of plastic, reducingthe force required and wear on tooling. Once the perforations arecreated, the plastic bags may be folded and a single orifice may becreated in the middle of the perforation. In this configuration, theorifice would puncture either layers of plastic and create a multifoldplastic bag similar to the embodiment described in FIG. 9.

Once the plastic grocery bags are formed as described above, they may bewrapped around a central support core selected from the Support CoreConfigurations 29. The support core may have a square or circularcross-section and can either be a hollow or solid structure. The supportcore should be designed to be connected to a plastic bag dispenser, asdescribed below in FIG. 11. This can be accomplished by forming a corewith an axel that extends outward and can be inserted into a plastic bagdispenser, by allowing an axel to pass through the core, or by havingthe core function as an axle that can be nested into a plastic bagdispenser.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention nestedon a plastic bag dispenser 410. The base frame 430 of the plastic bagdispenser 410 is composed of bottom section 401 and of back section 403.Bottom section 401 has an open front 425. Attachment means 417 isattached to the bottom section 401 and adapted to attach the plastic bagdispenser 410 to a mounting bracket such as a vertical surface mount, afloor stand mount, or a horizontal surface mount.

A first set of opposing side panels 407 is mounted to back section 403of the base frame 430 to stabilize the movement of a nested plastic bagroll 419. In this embodiment, first set of opposing side panels 407project forward at a right angles on opposite sides of back section 403.A second set of opposing side panels 408 is located on the bottomsection 401 of the base frame 430 to also stabilize the movement of anested plastic bag roll 419. In this embodiment, second set of opposingside panels 408 project forward at a right angles on opposite sides ofbottom section 401.

An elongated open guide bar 406 for movement of plastic bag 420 from thenested plastic bag roll 419 is located toward the open front 425 of thebottom section 401 of the base frame 430. Elongated open guide bar 406is adapted to assist the movement of plastic bag 420 from the plasticbag roll 419. In the present embodiment, elongated open guide bar 406 isa loop of material located on the bottom section 401 of base frame 430and oriented perpendicularly therefrom. Forward side guard 412 islocated at open front 425 on base section 401 to maintain properalignment of plastic bag 420 over the rip tongue 413.

Rip tongue 413 is located at the open front 425 of bottom section 401and is transverse to bottom section 401. Rip tongue 413 is adapted tocatch and separate a passing bag 420 along perforation 422 from a nestedplastic bag roll 419.

A swing arm 415 is located along bottom section 401 of the base frame430. In the present embodiment of the plastic bag dispenser 410, swingarm 415 is generally “L” shaped, with a right angle bend where itextends past the depth of the bottom section 401. The swing arm 415 isattached to the bottom section 401 by swing arm base 427. In the presentembodiment of the plastic bag dispenser 410, swing arm base 427 is amounting bracket with a recess adapted to allow swing arm 415 to act asan axle when couple with swing arm base 427. A plastic bag roll stop 423is located at the free end of swing arm 415 and is adapted to keepplastic bag roll 419 in place during use. As plastic bag roll 419 isdepleted, the swing arm 415 rotates about swing arm base 427 towardsbottom section 401 and rear section 403 of base frame 430.

To operate the plastic bag dispenser 410, a plastic bag 420 is pulleddown over the rip tongue 413. This causes nested plastic bag roll 419 tounroll until perforations 422 in plastic bag 420 pass over the riptongue 413. As the perforations 422 pass over rip tongue 413 the plasticbag 420 separates from the nested plastic bag roll 419. The next plasticbag 424 on the nested plastic bag roll 419 is then positioned in theopen front 425 for use. The plastic bag roll 419 is prevented fromunraveling when not in use by friction between the plastic bag roll 419and the bottom section 401 and back section 403 of base frame 430.

To summarize, the present invention thus provides a multifold grocerybag which comprises at least two plastic grocery bags in connected inseries and defined by a separation border. Each individual plasticgrocery bag has sides, a sealed bottom and an openable top and isconnected to adjacent bags such that the openable top of one bag isremovable connected to the sealed bottom of the next bag by a separationfault. The plastic grocery bags are folded first in half in a firstdirection from side to side and then each half being folded in halfagain from side to side in an opposite direction from said first halffold, to create a flat, full width single M-shaped fold. The multifoldgrocery bags can then be wrapped onto a support core to form a plasticbag roll for use with a plastic bag dispenser.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those particularembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags, which comprises: atleast two plastic grocery bags in series connected to one another bycontinuous plastic sheet and defined by a separation border, each ofsaid at least two plastic grocery bags having sides, a sealed bottom andan openable top, each of said at least two plastic grocery bags beingarranged with each bottom connected to an adjacent bag top; said atleast two plastic grocery bags separation border including at least oneseparation fault selected from the group consisting of perforation,orifice, thin and combinations thereof; said at least two plasticgrocery bags being folded first in half in a first direction from sideto side and then each half being folded in half again from side to sidein an opposite direction from said first half fold, to create a flat,full width single M-shaped fold.
 2. The plurality of multifold plasticgrocery bags of claim 1 wherein said separation fault is a plurality ofperforations.
 3. The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags ofclaim 1 wherein said separation fault is established after said bags arefolded and is a combination of perforations and at least one orifice. 4.The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags of claim 3 wherein saidat least one orifice is at least ¾ inch in width.
 5. The plurality ofmultifold plastic grocery bags of claim 3 wherein said at least oneorifice is centrally located and has perforations left and right of saidat least one orifice.
 6. The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bagsof claim 1 wherein there is a total of four folded sections of saidsingle M-shaped fold, and each fold has two layers of plastic sheet, andall folds have equal widths.
 7. The plurality of multifold plasticgrocery bags of claim 1 wherein said at least two plastic grocery bagsis at least fifty plastic grocery bags.
 8. The plurality of multifoldplastic grocery bags of claim 1 wherein said at least two plasticgrocery bags are plastic selected from the group consisting ofpolyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene-polypropylene blend.
 9. Theplurality of multifold plastic grocery bags of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid at least two plastic grocery bags has a predetermined widthmeasured from side to side and a predetermined length measured from topto bottom and said predetermined length is greater than saidpredetermined width.
 10. The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bagsof claim 1 wherein each of said at least two plastic grocery bags has apredetermined folded width and has a predetermined folded length andsaid predetermined length is at least five times greater than saidfolded width.
 11. A multifold plastic grocery bag roll, which comprises:a) a support core; and, b) a roll of plastic grocery bags on saidsupport core and having at least two plastic grocery bags in seriesconnected to one another by continuous plastic sheet and defined by aseparation border, each of said at least two plastic grocery bags havingsides, a sealed bottom and an openable top, each of said at least twoplastic grocery bags being arranged with each bottom connected to anadjacent bag top; said at least two plastic grocery bags separationborder including at least one separation fault selected from the groupconsisting of perforation, orifice, thin and combinations thereof; saidat least two plastic grocery bags being folded first in half in a firstdirection from side to side and then each half being folded in halfagain from side to side in an opposite direction from said first halffold to create a flat, full width single M-shaped fold.
 12. Theplurality of multifold plastic grocery bags of claim 11 wherein saidseparation fault is a plurality of perforations.
 13. The plurality ofmultifold plastic grocery bags of claim 11 wherein said separation faultis established after said bags are folded and is a combination ofperforations and at least one orifice.
 14. The plurality of multifoldplastic grocery bags of claim 13 wherein said at least one orifice is atleast ¾ inch in width.
 15. The plurality of multifold plastic grocerybags of claim 13 wherein said at least one orifice is centrally locatedand has perforations left and right of said at least one orifice. 16.The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags of claim 11 whereinthere is a total of four folded sections of said single M-shaped fold,and each fold has two layers of plastic sheet, and all folds have equalwidths.
 17. The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags of claim 11wherein said at least two plastic grocery bags is at least fifty plasticgrocery bags.
 18. The plurality of multifold plastic grocery bags ofclaim 11 wherein said at least two plastic grocery bags are plasticselected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene andpolyethylene-polypropylene blend.
 19. The plurality of multifold plasticgrocery bags of claim 11 wherein each of said at least two plasticgrocery bags has a predetermined width measured from side to side and apredetermined length measured from top to bottom and said predeterminedlength is greater than said predetermined width.
 20. The plurality ofmultifold plastic grocery bags of claim 11 wherein each of said at leasttwo plastic grocery bags has a predetermined folded width and has apredetermined folded length and said predetermined length is at leastfive times greater than said folded width.